Cancer Society's Auction Block Laden With Celebrity Items

Planners of the third annual Lake County American Cancer Society celebrity auction tonight at Pine Meadows Country Club hope to raise about $6,000 for cancer research, treatment and recovery.

The $125-a-plate dinner includes a chance to bid on about a dozen items donated by national political, theater, arts, and sports figures.

Among the items on the celebrity auction block is a framed copy of a letter written by former Secretary of State Deak Rusk to Queen Elizabeth, accepting the queen's gift of two acres to America shortly after the assassination of President Kennedy.

The Rusk letter was obtained by Kenneth and Carolyn Wernimont of Mount Dora, who both served with Rusk on the Rockefeller Foundation board of directors years ago.

The University of Florida has donated framed 11-by-14 color portraits of Gator Head coach Galen Hall.

And a golf glove used by Palmer in a tournament mostly likely will see some high bidding. (Frankly, I'd rather bid for a five-minute lesson on how to straighten my seven-iron after recently trying to bang out of the woods onto the number one fairway at Pine Meadows).

Burt Reynolds fans, are you reading this?

Well, if you are -- and you've got your $125 dinner tickets for tonight's bash -- don't forget your check book because a Burt Reynolds personalized engraved belt buckle is on the celebrity auction agenda. And we all know what a BR buckle is worth today.

Others celebrity items up for bid include:

-- a pastel water color painting by Leesburg artist Alfred Leonard.

-- a children's book, autographed by Palmer.

-- a hardcover edition of the Florida Atlas, autographed by Gov. Bob Graham.

-- a photo of Graham and Lt. Gov. Wayne Mixson, autographed by the governor's wife, Adele.

-- an autographed personal television script, Wrangler Country Star Search, from country western recording artist Mel Tillis. The highest bidder will also get a personal letter from Tillis.

-- an unautographed casting net from State Rep. Everett Kelly.

A few tickets are still available. Contact the Lake Cancer Society in Eustis.